Columbina walked gracefully and lightly towards Lin Yide, gazing at him quietly.
Lin Yide waited for a moment, but heard no dialogue from her. He had no choice but to break the silence himself: "Third of the Fatui Harbingers, have you come to seize the Gnosis?"
Columbina nodded, looking slightly stunned, then slowly extended her slender hand. "Precisely."
Seeing her like this, Lin Yide knew she definitely hadn't memorized the script he gave her. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He immediately used persuasive words, trying to guide the plot development: "You possess powerful strength comparable to the gods. But you admire our unyielding spirit of freedom, so you've decided to compensate us with Mora, right!"
The moment Columbina heard about Mora compensation, a hint of realization flashed in her eyes. She nodded quickly and solemnly added, "Please be sure to issue the bill."
Except for Aether and Paimon, everyone else present wore strange expressions.
Lin Yide felt incredibly embarrassed, wishing he could just disappear into the ground.
But he could only grit his teeth now and continue acting according to the original script: "People of Mondstadt, you will never forget this painful day."
After speaking, he quickly tossed the Gnosis in his hand to Columbina.
Columbina took the Gnosis, still reminding him uneasily, "Don't forget to issue the bill."
Lin Yide's embarrassment at this moment was enough for him to dig out a three-bedroom, one-living room apartment [just to hide].
Venti, at this moment, added more drama again. After all, a role must be seized.
He struggled to get up, moving towards Lin Yide in an exaggerated crawling posture.
With a face full of grief, he cried out: "Having lost my Gnosis, I fear my time is short. In my final moments, I have but one wish: to taste Diona's exquisite wine one last time!"
Lin Yide somewhat regretted stopping Rosalyne from teaching this drama queen a lesson with her whip.
Since things had come to this, to prevent the scene from falling flat, he could only say helplessly, "I promise you."
Hearing this, Venti's face showed a content and peaceful smile. He then slowly closed his eyes, as if he had passed away peacefully.
Just then, Jean arrived leading a squad of Knights of Favonius.
Columbina had already quietly departed with the Gnosis before they arrived.
Seeing Jean and the Knights, Lin Yide secretly let out a long sigh of relief.
The scene finally came to a close here. If this terrible play were put on Douban, it would likely be refused a rating.
...
Several days later, at the gates of Mondstadt City, spring sunlight shone down, gentle and warm.
A gentle breeze softly blew, bringing with it a faint floral scent.
"Aether, Paimon, I wish you a smooth journey to the snowy mountains." Lin Yide waved, bidding farewell to Aether and Paimon.
Aether and Paimon waved back and turned to walk towards the distant snowy mountains.
After watching their figures gradually disappear into the distance, Lin Yide also turned and walked towards the Deyi Coffee Shop.
Walking down the streets of Mondstadt City, Lin Yide felt the changes in the city.
Compared to before, Mondstadt City had less of a lenient and undisciplined atmosphere, replaced by a vibrant and positive energy.
Suddenly, the long-unheard system voice resounded in Lin Yide's mind: "Congratulations, Host, for completing the Trial Event—Controlling Mondstadt's Economy and successfully changing this nation. You have gained Trial Points."
Hearing this voice, Lin Yide couldn't help but reveal a smile of delight.
He hadn't originally had high expectations for Mondstadt's Trial Points, but he didn't expect this mission to give such a generous reward. This was undoubtedly an unexpected surprise for him.
Before he knew it, Lin Yide had reached the coffee shop entrance.
He gently pushed open the door, and the bell behind it rang clearly in the breeze.
Inside the shop, Columbina was sitting quietly at a table, with a half-finished cup of coffee on it.
When she saw Lin Yide arrive, she immediately stood up and extended her hand. "Yide, the bill!"
Lin Yide handed her a large, thick stack of bills that he had already prepared.
"If you ever need to make fake bills like this again, just leave it to us," he said easily. "West Factory production guarantees quality. As long as you give us a ten percent handling fee, everything will be handled perfectly."
Columbina thought for a moment and commented seriously, "You're getting as shady as Pantalone."
Lin Yide quickly denied it vehemently. "Columbina, do you think forging bills is that simple? It would leave countless loopholes. We have to construct realistic cash flow records, pay all sorts of taxes and fees during the process, not to mention take on huge risks. Only charging a ten percent handling fee is entirely because you're my friend."
Although Columbina only half-understood Lin Yide's explanation, she couldn't help but feel she had gotten a great deal.
With a touch of naivety, she said gratefully, "Thank you!"
Lin Yide smiled slightly and waved his hand gently. "You're too kind, no need to thank me!"
Ah, it's nothing but 'reluctantly' pocketing a ten percent handling fee.
Just then, he suddenly recalled the prophecy he had seen in "The Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies," so he asked, "Will there be a great disaster in the future?"
Upon hearing this, Columbina's body trembled suddenly. Her usually cold face was now filled with surprise and confusion. "Yide, how did you know?"
Lin Yide's heart tightened. Columbina's reaction undoubtedly confirmed his guess. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I saw it in a fairytale book."
Columbina was taken aback for a moment, but soon understood the reason.
She regained her composure and replied slowly, "Indeed, according to the original trajectory, the continent of Teyvat would face a great disaster, and the world described in the prophecy would be swallowed by darkness. However, for some unknown reason, the future of Teyvat Continent has undergone a huge shift and is developing towards an unknown direction."
Lin Yide pondered for a moment and continued to press, "Is all of this because of the Traveler's arrival?"
Columbina gently shook her head. "There were originally two preset destinies for the continent of Teyvat: one is the false destiny, and the other is the true destiny. The Traveler's appearance was originally meant to guide the world from the false towards the true. But now, the entire world's trajectory has deviated from the original path."
After listening, Lin Yide fell into deep thought.
All along, the destiny of Teyvat Continent has been skillfully manipulated by some force. This manipulation aims to ensure the world's safety and stable operation. Whenever the world's future development deviates or faces a crisis, Descenders are summoned here. Their appearance changes the original course of the world, guiding it towards a new direction.
Without Aether's arrival, Teyvat Continent would head towards an abyss of darkness and destruction. According to that preset "true destiny," Aether would continuously grow stronger during his journey, eventually gaining the power to change the world. The world would not be scorched again, and he would ascend the Divine Throne of the world.
However, this true destiny was not the destiny Lin Yide wanted. Because, in this destiny, Focalors would destroy her own Divine Throne, changing the fate of the people of Fontaine at the cost of her own annihilation.